• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Drinking water deficiency is prevalent in developing countries due to contamination of surface and ground water, difficulties of water treatment, and lack of water infrastructures. 'Rainwater For Drinking (RFD)' projects are emerging as one of the effective solutions globally since RFD systems provide safe drinking water from rainwater. In RFD projects, perception of local residents toward RFD project is essential as local residents must manage their RFD systems on their own after the project finishes. This research performed survey and interview to 209 local residents, who use RFD systems, and analyzed their general perception, expected effects and feared factors toward RFD projects. Through the research, it was shown that the most of the local residents have positive perception towards RFD projects' effectiveness (41.9%) and are willing to participate (58.9%). The top three expected effect factors of the RFD projects were 'supply of safe water source', 'vitalization of local community', and 'expansion of RFD system'. The top three feared factors were 'quality of rainwater', 'technical factors of RFD system', and 'maintenance of RFD system'. The research findings indicate that development of simple water quality measuring device and education of the local residents about RFD system is necessary for better maintenance of the RFD system after the project finishes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.84-95
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• 1996

Environmental pollution has recently been progressed in the metropolitan and industrial areas of Korea and concerns have been evolved against the chronic effects of the pollution on natural ecosystem. This study was carried out to investigate the environmental pollution impacts on ion input into forest ecosystems and soil environmental changes. Study plots were established at Seoul, Ulsan, Yeochon, and Seosan for pollution sites and at Pyungchang for a non-pollution site. Atmospheric deposition was measured with rain, throughfall, and stem flow samples collected in the forest areas. Soil chemical properties were investigated to compare the pollution impacts on the sites. Precipitation acidity in the metropolitan and industrial areas ranged from pH 4.5 to 5.5, showing the levels lower than pH 5.8 of mountain area. Ion concentrations in the precipitation had increased significantly while passing the crown layer in the metropolitan and industrial areas, showing the increase by 4 times at the maximum. Total ion input in the metropolitan and industrial areas was greater than that in mountain area by approximately 2-3 times. Soil acidification caused by acidic ion input seemed to be greatest at Seoul, showing pH 1 decrease compared to that of Pyungchang. Soil canon contents were relatively high in the metropolitan and industrial areas. Although the canon leaching loss was not apparent, soil acidification process seemed to be continued by acidic ion input. Environmental pollution in the metropolitan and industrial areas exerted changes in ion input into the forest ecosystems and soil conditions. The chronic effects of environmental pollution should be monitored and investigated further to explain the processes of ecosystem change and the impacts on plant growth.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.196-200
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• 2007

This study was to determine long-term changes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in paddy soils. To do this, we analyzed 16 PAHs in soil samples which were stored in the archive of Yeoungnam Agricultural Research Institute, Milyang, Kyeoungnam province, Korea. The samples used in this study were collected every year from 1978 to 2001 at the plough layer (0-12cm). In average, total PAHs accumulated in paddy soil was continuously decreased since 1980 when it peaked to be $237g\;kg^{-1}$. No significant changes were observed for PAHs having 5-6 phenyl rings for the past two decades, whereas PAHs with 3-4 phenyl rings were greatly decreased, reaching at about a half levels of the 1980's. It is worthy to be noted that the large reduction in PAHs with 3-4 phenyl rings has mainly been attributed to the decrease of PAHs in paddy soils for last 20 years. The major compounds accumulated were: phenanthrene > fluoroanthene > chrysene/benzo(b)fluoroanthene. The present results suggest that the switch of main fuels used in Korea from coal to petroleum around at the end of 1970's is likely contributed to decrease in PAH accumulation in paddy soils.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2009

Octachlorostyrene(OCS) has been persisted in environment because it has not been decomposed easily. And, it has been known as highly toxic compounds to the environment and human as well as accumulated as high concentrations in a biota through a food chain. Therefore, OCS was monitored for water, soil and fish sampled from the areas where were able to be contaminated with OCS. The recoveries of octachlorostyrene were 93.1${\sim}$98.6% in water, 90.4${\sim}$94.8% in soil and 81.5${\sim}$90.2% in fish and detection limits were 0.0004 mg $L^{-1}$ for water, and 0.002 mg $kg^{-1}$ for soil and fish, respectively. OCS was not detected in water, sediment, soil and fish samples from Ulsan, Yeosu, Daejeon and Sihwa industrial complex and in soil sampled nearby incineration plants in all parts of the country. Accordingly, we estimated that there is no risk from exposure of OCS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 1997

This paper examines the influences of mining activities on the concentrations of heavy metals in soils in the vicinity of the Dalsung Cu-W mine, Korea. Geochemical surveys were undertaken in the Dalsung mine area and sampling of surface and subsurface soils was carried out. Samples were prepared using 0.1 N HCI, HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$, and aqua regia, and analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. In addition, soil samples were sequentially extracted to investigate the chemical speciation of heavy metals in soils. Heavy metals are highly contaminated in soils in the vicinity of mining area ranging up to 28 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Cd, 5000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Cu, 2390 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Pb and 930 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Zn by the method using HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$. The pollution indices calculated with the permissible levels are up to 49 in surface and subsurface soils, which are considered sufficient to raise environmental problems. However, the heavy metal levels by the method using 0.1 N HCl are not higher than Korean standard for soil contamination. It suggests that analytical methods and soil standard should be re-examined. From the results of the sequential extraction methods for metal speciation, total Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations may be determined by analytical methods using HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$ or aqua regia, and exchangeable phase of those metals by the method using 0.1 N HCl.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to determine the residual amounts of PAHs in environmental samples such as crop, soil and water collected from paddy, upland fields and forestlands near industrial zone and/or a thermal power plant in South Korea. All of the samples were analyzed by GC-mass spectrometer. The average contents of total PAHs in soil samples were 140.2 ${\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ and the range was from 4.3 to $662.9{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$. The detection of benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene and dibenzo(a,h) anthracene which have strong carcinogenecity was ranged from 14.2 to 167.8 ${\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$. The residual amounts and detection frequency of PAHs in soil samples from the iron and heavy industrial areas near Pohang and Busan were 3-folds more than those of the other areas. Amounts of PAHs in upland soil samples was 1.5 folds higher than those of paddy soil samples, suggesting that it may be related to the content of organic matter in soil. The average contents of total PAHs in crop samples were 9.7 ${\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$ which ranged from 4.5 to 52.2 ${\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$. However, the residual amounts of PAHs in water samples were not detected. These results showed that soils and crops were slightly contaminated with PAHs. Therefore, the investigation should be continued for evaluating a safety or risk assessment through expansion of regions and crops.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.342-346
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• 1997

Contents of heavy metals in paddy soils and brown rice of near the Kunsan industrial complex area were investigated. Average total heavy metal contents in paddy soils were Pb 34.33, Cd 0.50, Cu 35.49, and Zn 71.67 mg/kg respectively. There are no correlation between distances from industrial complex and contents of heavy metals in paddy soils. Average contents of heavy metals in brown rice grown above paddy soil were Pb 1.74, Cd 0.07, Cu 3.54, and Zn 16.53 mg/kg. Relationships between 0.1N HCl soluble heavy metals in paddy soils and contents of brown rice showed positive significant correlations for Pb at l% $level(r=0.6853^{**})$ and for Zn at 5% $level(r=0.5420^*)$. Relationships between total contents of heavy metals in paddy soils and contents of brown rice showed only positive significant correlation for Pb at 1% $level(r=0.7131^{**})$. Contents of heavy metals in paddy soils and brown rice of near the Kunsan industrial complex was polluted partly by the influence of smoke and dust out from industrial complex but not polluted anxious level

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of stabilization for army firing range soil highly contaminated with Pb (total Pb: 29,000 mg/kg) using calcined waste oyster shells. The calcination was conducted to activate quicklime from calcite. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of calcination, both natural oyster shells (NOS) and calcined oyster shells (COS) were applied to the Pb contaminated soil. Stabilization was conducted by mixing the contaminated soil with oyster shell media at 5-20 wt% and cured for 28 days. Following 28 days of curing, Pb leachability was measured based on the Korean Standard Test method (0.1 N HCl extraction). The treatment results showed that the COS treatment outperformed the NOS treatment. All of the NOS treatments failed to meet the Korean warning standard of 100 mg/kg. However, the Pb concentrations were significantly reduced to 47 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg upon 15 wt% and 20 wt% COS treatments, respectively which passed the Korean warning standard. Moreover, -#20 mesh materials were more effective than the -#10 mesh materials in effectively reducing Pb leachability. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results indicated that Pb immobilization was strongly linked to Al and Si.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.311-324
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• 2004

We investigated the contamination and behavior of heavy metals in stream sediments within the watershed of Juam Reservoir. Many abandoned mines within the reservoir can act as a potential contaminant source for water quality. Heavy metal concentrations (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in stream sediments from watershed are very low, indicating that content of heavy metals in the sediments probably do not affect the water quality in Juam Reservoir. However Pb concentration in the stream sediments increases downward streams, suggesting the possible diffusion of Pb contamination. According to the leaching ratio for stream sediments at a strong acidic condition in the abandoned mine areas, the relative mobility for metals decreases in the order of Pb＞Zn=Cu＞Ni＞Cr, indicating that Pb can have a bad effect upon the water quality in Jum Reservoir. Moreover, if contaminated sediment is placed in the bottom of reservoir (i.e., reducing condition), the relative mobility of Pb is the highest, indicating that Pb in the bottom sediments can be leached to water at interface between water and sediment with changing in physicochemical conditions.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.157-181
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• 2020

Sediments from rivers, lakes and marine ports serve as end points for pollutants discharged into the water, and at the same time serve as sources of pollutants that are continuously released into the water. Until now, the contaminated sediments have been landfilled or dumped at sea. Landfilling, however, was expensive and dumping at sea was completely banned due to the London Convention. Therefore, this study applied contaminated sedimentation soil of 'Royal Palace Livestock Complex' as soil purification method. Soil remediation methods were applied to pretreatment, composting, soil washing, electrokinetics, and thermal desorption by selecting overseas application cases and domestically applicable application technologies. As a result of surveying the site for pollutant characteristics, Disolved Oxigen (DO), Suspended Solid (SS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Nitrogen (TN), and Total Phosphorus (TP) exceeded the discharged water quality standard, and especially SS, COD, TN, and TP exceeded the standard several tens to several hundred times. Soil showed high concentrations of copper and zinc, which promote the growth of pig feed, and cadmium exceeded 1 standard of Soil Environment Conservation Act. In the pretreatment technology, hydrocyclone was used for particle size separation, and the fine soil was separated by more than 80%. Composting was performed on organic and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) contaminated soils. TPH was treated within the standard of concern, and E. coli was analyzed to be high in organic matter, and the fertilizer specification was satisfied by applying the optimum composting conditions at 70℃, but the organic matter content was lower than the fertilizer specification. As a result of continuous washing test, Cd has 5 levels of residual material in fine soil. Cu and Zn were mostly composed of ion exchange properties (stage 1), carbonates (stage 2), and iron / manganese oxides (stage 3), which facilitate easy separation of contamination. As a result of applying acid dissolution and multi-stage washing step by step, hydrochloric acid, 1.0M, 1: 3, 200rpm, 60min was analyzed as the optimal washing factor. Most of the contaminated sediments were found to satisfy the Soil Environmental Conservation Act's standards. Therefore, as a result of the applicability test of this study, soil with high heavy metal contamination was used as aggregate by applying soil cleaning after pre-treatment. It was possible to verify that it was efficient to use organic and oil-contaminated soil as compost Maturity after exterminating contaminants and E. coli by applying composting.